_Alvar (rushes towards her, and catches her as she is falling)._ O gracious heaven! it is, it is Teresa! Shall I reveal myself? The sudden shock Of rapture will blow out this spark of life, And joy complete what terror has begun. O ye impetuous beatings here, be still! Teresa, best beloved! pale, pale, and cold! Her pulse doth flutter! Teresa! my Teresa! _Teresa (recovering)._ I heard a voice; but often in my dreams I hear that voice! and wake and try--and try-- To hear it waking! but I never could-- And 'tis so now--even so! Well! he is dead-- Murdered perhaps! And I am faint, and feel As if it were no painful thing to die! _Alvar._ Believe it not, sweet maid! Believe it not, Beloved woman! 'Twas a low imposture Framed by a guilty wretch. _Teresa._ Ha! Who art thou? _Alvar._ Suborned by his brother-- _Teresa._ Didst thou murder him? And dost thou now repent? Poor troubled man, I do forgive thee, and may Heaven forgive thee! _Alvar._ Ordonio--he---- _Teresa._ If thou didst murder him-- His spirit ever at the throne of God Asks mercy for thee: prays for mercy for thee, With tears in Heaven! _Alvar._ Alvar was not murdered. Be calm! be calm, sweet maid! _Teresa._ Nay, nay, but tell me! [_A pause._ O 'tis lost again! This dull confused pain-- [_A pause._ Mysterious man! Methinks I can not fear thee: for thine eye Doth swim with love and pity--Well! Ordonio-- Oh my foreboding heart! And he suborned thee, And thou didst spare his life? Blessings shower on thee, As many as the drops twice counted o'er In the fond faithful heart of his Teresa! _Alvar._ I can endure no more. The Moorish sorcerer Exists but in the stain upon his face. That picture---- _Teresa._ Ha! speak on! _Alvar._ Beloved Teresa! It told but half the truth. O let this portrait Tell all--that Alvar lives--that he is here! Thy much deceived but ever faithful Alvar. [_Takes her portrait from his neck, and gives it her._ _Teresa (receiving the portrait)._ The same--it is the same. Ah! Who art thou? Nay, I will call thee, Alvar! [_She falls on his neck._ _Alvar._ O joy unutterable! But hark! a sound as of removing bars At the dungeon's outer door. A brief, brief while Conceal thyself, my love! It is Ordonio. For the honour of our race, for our dear father; O for himself too (he is still my brother) Let me recall him to his nobler nature, That he may wake as from a dream of murder! O let me reconcile him to himself, Open the sacred source of penitent tears, And be once more his own beloved Alvar. _Teresa._ O my all virtuous love! I fear to leave thee With that obdurate man.